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On the Dangers of Dabbing

One of the most recent trends in the world of marijuana is the use of THC

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MARC BULLARD

concentrates, usually via a method called dabbing.  This entails heating a small amount of concentrate, often on the tip of a nail, and inhaling the resulting vapor.  Proponents favor this method because the concentrates can be up to 90% THC, producing very strong highs very quickly and using relatively little product.

But the flip side of that, particularly for inexperienced users, is the potential for very harmful side effects.  THC, the chief psychoactive component in marijuana, can have detrimental effects on the brain, particularly the immature brains of adolescents.  And in high enough doses it is possible to overdose on THC.

A recent news story discusses the suicide of Marc Bullard, whose depression is believed to be related to his use of THC concentrates.  View the full story here, including an interview with marijuana researcher Dr. Kari Franson.

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Heavy Marijuana Use Reduces Bone Density, Increases Risk of Fractures

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A new study from the University of Edinburgh has provided early evidence that “Heavy cannabis use is associated with low bone mineral density, low BMI, high bone turnover, and an increased risk of fracture. Heavy cannabis use negatively impacts bone health both directly and indirectly through an effect on BMI.”

This is the first study to look at marijuana’s effects on bones, so it is too early to definitively define those effects.  But this early study showed that heavy marijuana use accounted for about 5-6% change in bone density, and that heavy users were more than twice as likely to experience fractures as non-users.

The full article is available on the website of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Houston HIDTA: Assessment of Marijuana Legalization

 

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The Houston HIDTA published a new report assessing the potential impacts of marijuana legalization on the state.  The report explains why the Houston HIDTA does not support the expansion of access to marijuana, detailing reasons such as increased incidents of drugged driving and rates of youth use, as well as rising THC contents. Read the full report here.

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San Diego HIDTA: California Impact Report

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Our colleagues at the San Diego Imperial HIDTA have published a new report on the impacts of marijuana in the state of California.  All four California HIDTA offices contributed to the report, which has excellent information regarding the current impacts of marijuana, as well as the potential impacts on the state of further expanding access to marijuana. Click here to read the full report.

 

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2016 Colorado Impact Report

 

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Our colleagues at the Rocky Mountain HIDTA have published a new impact report, detailing marijuana’s effects on the state of Colorado.  Visit their site to view the full report, to view past reports, or to learn more about the RMHIDTA and its work.

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Rocky Mountain Rebuttal of The Denver Post

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The Rocky Mountain HIDTA has published a rebuttal to an article published in The Denver Post 카지노커뮤니티 that stated that marijuana use rates among teens were flat.  The article stated that a small increase in use among teens was not statistically significant, and the Rocky Mountain report aims to delve deeper into the available data to present a clearer picture.

Read the Denver Post article here, and RMHIDTA’s rebuttal here.

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CBS Interviews Ed Shemelya

Debrorah Duncan

In June of 2016, the NMI’s Ed Shemelya was invited to appear on the morning talk show “Great Day Houston.”  He was asked to stay for the entire hour and discussed several topics, including the medicalization of marijuana, increased hospital admissions due to marijuana, and the implications of rising THC concentrations.

The whole program is available in several segments.  This segment provides a good overview of the most critical issues related to marijuana.

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Northwest HIDTA: Washington Impact Report

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Our colleagues at the Northwest HIDTA have published a report on the impacts marijuana has had on Washington state since it was legalized there in 2012.  The report’s biggest conclusions were that adults in Washington state rank among the highest users of marijuana in the nation; pot is disrupting the classroom; and cannabis grown in The Evergreen State is being illegally exported across America.  Read the full report at the Northwest HIDTA’s website.

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Marijuana Use During Pregnancy And Breastfeeding

There is evidence that maternal marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with some delivery complications; babies being born with low birth-weights; and possibly a ventricular septal defect (a hole in a baby’s heart). There is also some research suggesting that marijuana use during pregnancy is related to abnormal early-childhood and adolescent behavior, and possibly even some cancers. Very early exposure to THC (prenatally or during breastfeeding) may negatively affect brain development, particularly the development of emotional responses. It also seems to be tied to children showing “gaps in problem-solving skills, memory, and the ability to remain attentive.”

A less commonly discussed topic is paternal use of marijuana during pregnancy. There is actually some evidence that “fathers’ marijuana use in the year prior to their children’s births is associated with an increased risk of [a rare but very malignant tumor] in their children.” It may also be correlated with an increased chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Overall, the effects of marijuana use on fetuses and babies are unclear, and for this reason most physicians recommend that women avoid its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Second-hand marijuana smoke has also been shown to cause altered states of consciousness in infants and young children, which should be avoided particularly since safe limits for this are unknown.

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Increasing numbers of children admitted to hospitals with marijuana exposure

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A new study shows that the number of children being admitted to hospitals with lung irritation who have been exposed to marijuana is increasing. At this point, 16 percent of children (about 1 in 6) admitted for bronchiolitis show signs of contact with THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana. This number has gone up since recreational marijuana use became legal in Colorado in 2014. In addition to psychoactive properties, marijuana can contain carcinogens and other toxic chemicals, and most of these chemicals’ effects on children have not been tested.

Visit Science Daily for the full press release.

UPDATE:

 

This issue is receiving increased attention, as seen in a recent article from the New York Times.   The piece discusses a new study from the Journal of the American Medical Association, which says that Colorado’s rate of pediatric exposures to marijuana has increased by more than 150% since the state began allowing the legal use of recreational marijuana in 2014.  Many of the affected children were accidentally exposed by ingesting marijuana-infused edible goods.  Kids are particularly at risk for accidental exposure because they cannot distinguish between these products and the harmless cookies, brownies, and candies they’re used to.  One researcher also commented that many marijuana edibles are packaged in bright colors that attract children’s attention.

A report (pictured above) from the Washington Poison Center shows similar occurrences in the state.  Like Colorado, Washington has also had an increase in calls to poison control centers due to marijuana exposure and poisoning, and again, many of those calls or for children.  Another similarity is that the biggest increase in the number of calls came after recreational use of marijuana was legalized.